“I have little time that I can call my own here, of course, but am accomplishing a little. I am more familiar with the work here than I was last year, and like the boys. We have a good class of fellows in this school. The commandant is strict, but rather human, on the whole, and just. The boys all have confidence in him. His discipline stands back of the instructors, too, and we feel that we shall be supported in anything that is fair and square.”
“That must help, of course,” said Cathalina thoughtfully. “I don’t know the first thing about discipline. Whatever goes on at Greycliff most of us girls know nothing about.”
“Military discipline is a good thing for boys.”
“Yes. Father says that it is the finest kind of ‘athletics,’ too, for they don’t shuffle and swing themselves around, but get the habit fixed of the erect carriage that is so splendid.” Cathalina was enthusiastic now. “Oh, there they come!” Like Betty and the rest of the girls, Cathalina felt the quickening of interest and the inspiration which came with the music and the marching feet. “Don’t they look fine! Help me pick out the ones we know, Captain Van Horne. Wasn’t that Donald Hilton? I wonder where Betty is?”
“Over there with Captain Holley and his sister.”
“I see. Poor Betty.”
“Why ‘poor’?”
“She doesn’t like him.”
“She is laughing and seems to be having a good time.”
“Oh, she would. Besides, you would have a good time with anybody here.”